What is right and what is easy (Book 1) [A Draco Malfoy Love Story]

The Exact Moment I Had Completely And Utterly Fell Apart

I sat there, aware that every head in the great hall had turned to look back and forth at me and my brother. Harry looked stunned. I felt numb. Surely, I was dreaming. Or I hadn't heard correctly. There was no applause. A buzzing, as though of angry bees, was starting to fill the hall; some students were standing up to get a better look at either Harry and I as we sat, frozen in our seats.

I Noticed Harry turn to Ron and Hermione. "I didn't put my name In" Harry said blankly, his voice cutting through the silence of the hall "You know I didn't"

Both of them just stared blankly back. I noticed the whole Gryffindor table all watching him, open mouthed. I hadn't dared look at anyone from my house yet and I didn't plan to. My blood felt cold and I felt sick. I could feel every member of my houses gaze on me, even Snape's! But I could especially feel cold, piercing ones that belong to Draco Malfoy that I still refused to meet. My gaze instead fell to my lap and I twiddled my thumbs as though nothing has happened.

"Harry and Chloe Potter" Dumbledore called again "Harry! Chloe! Up here, if you please!"

"Go on" I hear Hermione whisper at Harry's table, I looked at Harry and met his gaze. He nodded at me and Hermione gave him a slight push. I still didn't look at any of my house and none of them spoke. Harry and I got to our feet. My brother set off up the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff table and I set off between Slytherin and Ravenclaw. My eyes remained fixed on my feet. It felt like an immensely long walk; the top of the table didn't seem to be getting any nearer at all, and all I could feel besides my utter numbness were hundreds and hundreds of eyes upon me, as though each were a searchlight. After what seemed like an hour, we were both in front of Dumbledore, feeling the stares of all the teachers upon us.

"Well... Through the door" said Dumbledore. He wasn't smiling.

Harry and I moved along the staff table. Hagrid was sat at the end. He didn't sink as us, or wave, or give any of his usual signs of greeting. He looked completely astonished, and stared at us as we passed, like everyone else. We went through the door, and found ourselves in a small room, lined with paintings of witches and wizards. A handsome fire was roaring in the fireplace opposite him.

Viktor Krum, Cedric Diggory and Fleur Delacour were grouped around the fire. They looked extremely impressive, silhouetted against the flames. Krum, hunched up and brooding, was leaning against the mantelpiece, slightly apart from the other two. Cedric was standing with his hands behind his back, staring into the fire. Fleur looked around when Harry and I walked in, and threw back her sheet of long, silvery hair.

"What is it?" She asked us "Do zey want us back in ze hall?"

She thought we had come to deliver a message. I don't know how to explain what has just happened. So, I just stood there, looking at the three champions, hoping my brother would explain.

There was a sound of scurrying feet behind us, and Ludo Bagman entered the room. He took Harry and I by the arms and led us forward.

"Extraordinary" he muttered, squeezing my arm "absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen... And lady" he added, approaching the fireside and addressing the other three "may I introduce - incredible though it may seem - the fourth and fifth Triwizard Champions?"

Krum straightened up. His surly face darkened as he surveyed us. Cedric looked nonplussed. He looked from Bagman to me and back again as though sure he must have misheard what Bagman had said. The door opened behind us again, and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor Mcgonagall and Professor Snape. I heard buzzing of the hundreds of students on the other side of the wall before the door closed again.